Writers/artists:
variousThey can try
to be as nostalgic as they like, but rereading old British strips like Shako (killer polar bear) and Johnny Red (disgraced English pilot now
flies for the Russians during WW2) are laaaame.5. Local
Heroes (free with Comic Heroes
#16, 2012) ***½

Writers/artists:
variousEnglish-based
publisher SelfMadeHero is putting out some very interesting graphic novels
right now. A few of these could wind up in my collection, including Pachyderme and Deadbeats.6. The
Comics Journal #299 (Fantagraphics, 2009) **** (*** for Eve)

I normally
wouldn’t include a comics news’n’interviews mag in this list, but this issue
features a complete graphic novel, 1943’s whimsical, text-free Eve by legendary animator Myron Waldman.
Actually, I bought TCJ#299 for the
extensive feature on (at that point) the greatest comic book never published, The Someday Funnies, compiled by Michel
Choquette. This will be discussed in-depth in a upcoming podcast.7. Occupy Comics #2 (Black Mask, 2013) **½

Writers/artists:
variousStridently
righteous. Alan Moore’s left-wing history of comics has become tedious. So has
some cynical screed on the uber-rich fucks who destroyed the American (and
possibly the world) economy in recent years. And, frankly, don’tcha think this
whole 99% “Occupy” bullshit kinda done its 15 minutes? Yeah, me, too.

THE MAN IN THE IRON MASK

IN
CELEBRATION of the recent release of Iron Man 3, I decided to read a whole
bunch of Iron Man comics I’ve built up over the years. Let’s see if the yarns
are as rusty as Shellhead is after he’s been caught in a storm.

8.-27. The
Essential Iron Man Vol. 1 (Marvel, 2000) **¾

- originally
published in Tales Of Suspense #39-72
(Marvel, 1962-65)Writers:
Stan Lee & friends/Artists: Don Heck, Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko Wally Wood
& friendsGrowing up
in the 1970s and 80s, I used to wonder why Iron Man was constantly referred to
as a second-string superhero. After all, he was immensely powerful (strong
enough to take on Thor in a battle),and
was a key member of The Avengers. But this 500+ page B&W omnibus explains
why by exploring Shellhead’s crappy past. Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad I read
these seminal stories from half a century ago, but boy! Do they suck! The
artwork – primarily by Heck – is pedestrian at best. But it’s Lee’s writing
that really lets down the series. Where do I begin? The horrible romantic
clichés involving the tiresome unconsummated relationship between Iron Man’s
alter ego Tony Stark and his secretary Pepper Potts; the love/hate relationship
between Pepper Potts and Stark’s chauffeur Happy Hogan; the constant whimpering
by Stark about his weak heart preventing him from leading a normal life (he
dates movie actresses, is a multi-millionaire and is a genius
inventor...yeah,right, I’m sure readers
wept for him); regular near-death occurrences where Iron Man has to rush home
mid-battle and plug a power cord into a wall socket to re-energise his heart
(seriously); the constant recycling of plots (super-villains attack a Tony Stark
factory, Iron Man stops them); the boring nature of his foes (for every
Mandarin and Hawkeye we got a Jack Frost or The Actor); the lame limitations of
Iron Man’s powers back in those days; and the pro-government/anti-Communist
propaganda that must have been tiresome even during those Cold War days for
pre-teen readers. Need I go on? Luckily, Iron Man was to get better (although
it took more than 15 years in his own title). Phew, time to move onto some
better-quality, more-recent Shellhead material, me’thinks.28.-35. Iron
Man: The Armor Wars (Marvel, 1990) ***½

- originally
published in Iron Man #225-232
(Marvel, 1987)Writers:
David Michelinie, Barry Windsor-Smith /Artists: Mark Bright & Bob Layton,
Barry Windsor-SmithNot the best
storyline ever, but still strangely satisfying. Tony Stark discovers that all
his Iron Man technology has been stolen and used to enhance armoured
supervillains. He decides to retrieve te stolen tech by force, pitting him
against a wide array of Marvel Universe baddies – Stilt-Man, Controller,
Crimson Dynamo, Titanium Man, etc – along with goodies such as Stingray and the
Guardsmen. Iron Man is soon at odds with former friends and allies such as
Captain America, Nick Fury, The Avengers and, eventually, the US military. The
storyline’s resolved way too easily in the end but Iron Man’s rogue nature and
“do-what-must-be-done-and-hang-the-moral-expense” attitude is refreshing in
many ways, especially for late 80s Marvel. I enjoyed the trade.36. The
Invincible Iron Man #500 (Marvel, 2011) ***¼

Writers:
Matt Fraction & friends/Artists: Salvador Larroca, Kano & friendsI felt like
I stepped into the end of a major storyline here. I’m gonna have to go back and
read these Matt Fraction-penned Iron Man
omnibuses I bought last year and work out what I missed.37. Iron
Man: Viva Las Vegas #2 (Marvel, 2008) **½

Writer: Jon Favreau/Artist: Adi Granov

What a gyp.
I thought this miniseries was only two issues long, turns out it’s a
four-parter...that was never completed for reasons unknown (boo!), featuring
great Adi Granov art (yay!) and sub-part writing by a slumming actor/director
(boo!) and guest-starring a rebooted Fin Fang Foom (boo!). Disappointing.38.-40. Iron
Man: Director Of Shield #22-24 (Marvel, 2007-08) ***½

- originally
published in Iron Man Legacy #6-11
(Marvel, 2010-11)Writer: Fred
Van Lente/Artists: Steve Kurth & Allen Martinez (#6-9), Philippe Briones
& Jeff Huet (#10-11), Juan Doe (covers)To be
honest, I only bought this for the cover art – very Soviet, very people’s
revolution. This “untold” story from Iron Man’s past is fine and features
interesting appearances from the Serpent Society, The Pride, obscure villain
The Hangman, Herbie the Robot and The Illuminati, as well as Tony Stark during
his “I’m a destitute recovering alcoholic” period in his career. That said, a
tale like this is innately damaged because it’s set in Stark’s past so we know
he’s not going to die, nor is the storyline gonna fuck up what happens later.
It’s essentially meaningless. But IMIR
is still a fun read, especially as the entire conflict is based on a thoroughly
sitcom-ish mistaken identity/two parties at cross-purposes cock-up. Very 80s.

Writer: Jim
Shepherd/Artist: Keith ChattoA reprint of
Phantom #951A from 1990, the first
all-Australian produced Phantom tale.
This came out to commemorate the recent death of Shepherd, who did much to
maintain the Phantom’s popularity in this country in the 80s and 90s and into
the 21st century. 49.-54. Saga
Vol. 2 (Image, 2013) ****

- originally
published in Dock Walloper #1-5 (Virgin, 2007-08)Writers: Ed
Burns & Jimmy Palmiotti/Artist: Siju ThomasA gangster
tale that doesn’t quite make the grade, although Siju’s Kirby-influenced art is
nice in parts (but amateurish in others). A gangster with a big right hand (literally)
slowly begins his rise to power in 1920s New York. This is nothing I’ve not
seen before in Hollywood flicks.64. Groovy
Gravy #11 (Edge Comix, 2009) DUD

Writers/artists:
variousEven a cool
cover plus various strips by good friend Mister J can rescue this Aussie comic.
It’s the utter shits.

65. Nuts:
A Graphic Novel by Gahan Wilson (Fantagraphics, 2011) ****

66. Marble
Season by Gilbert Hernandez (Faber, 2013) ****

The world of
kids – in all its casual brutality, day-to-day fun, banal activities and things
far more meaningful (although we were all too young to fully understand them at
the time) – are captured in two very different books. Nuts was a regular strip in National
Lampoon from 1972-86. This book collects all the strips, childhood
experiences appraised with a more cynical adult eye (and infused with a 1970s
post-Watergate/JFK cynicism). This is far darker than anything Wilson ever drew
for Playboy magazine. As for Marble Season, the work is far more
innocent and playful, but still there are big issues hanging around the
periphery, on the edges of the comic panels. Both books end nowhere in
particular. The principal stars are still in the midst of their childhood, a
little wiser but still young and reckless enough not to care too much about the
mistakes they’re inevitably going to make in the years ahead. I envy them a
little.